Absolutism: France
- Henry IV: Under Henry IV, the principal bureaucrats, known as the nobility of the robe, controlled the country's administration, and Henry made sure to turn their interests to his benefit.
- His invention of the paulette (an annual fee which ensured that an officeholder's job would remain in his family when he died) strengthened the commitment of the officerholders to the crown
- Mercantalism developed mainly in France. It became an essential ingredient of absolutism.
- Mercantalism: the belief that the world contained a fixed amount of wealth adn that each nation could enrich itself only at the expense of others. This either meant an accumulation of gold and silver or a favorable balance of trade in that there should be more exports than imports. All mercantalists agreed that state regulation of economic affairs was necessary for the welfare of a country, which then encouraged the belief of Absolutism.
- Marie de Medici: The widowed queen of Henry IV who took power because his son, Louis VIII, was only nine years old. Due to her weak direction, she had to summon Richelieu, a churchman who rose to b ea cardinal through her favor. He became chief minister and toook control over the government. Even when Louis XIII became old enough to be king, Richelieu made many decisions for the government and for the nation. Richelieu was the head of the military as well, and is known for his militarial skill. He took on the Huegonots (protestants) in a military campain, ending their political independence.Under Richelieu, there were major economical issues due to the sale of offices. More than three-quarters of the crown's direct taxation was needed to pay the salaries of the officeholders. The only solution to this was to increase the taxes on the lower classes. To improve this situation, Richelieu increased the power of intendants, the government's chief agents in the localities and established them as the principal representatives of the monarchy in each province of France.
- Louis XIV: Known for his elaborate state-builidng (the building of Versailles). He was known as the "Sun King". He was noted for his ability to gain respect from his subjects as a means of maintaining absolute power. While he gained services of influential administrators, they gained privelages and rewards without uncertainties that had come with thier traditional resistance to central control. In the words of Mr. Baldwin, they traded "political power for coolness". :) Louis XIV had two ministers who were his leading advisors. The first was Jean Baptiste Colbert. Colbert was known for his skills in finance. He regarded mercantalist policy as the key to state-builidng. He also believed that royal resources should be poursed into the navy, manufacturing, and shipping. The second advisor was Louvois. He believed that the army was France's founder of power. He felt that the most threatening country to France was the Holy Roman Empire.
- A leauge formed to try and supress France's growing power. The leauge was led by William III (United Provinces) and Leopold. Even after there was some peace, the War of Spanish Succession began when the King of Spain, Charles II, died without an heir and the Grand Alliance was worried that Phillip, Louis XIV's grandson, would take power and then Spain and France would unite into one super-power. The war ended in the Peace of Utrecht in 1713.
- The Duke of Orleans: Louis XIV's nephew took power. He did not like the absolutist system and wanted to give power to Parlement. His rule marks the beginning of the end of absolutism in France.